Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and JEOL have signed a new strategic partnership for the design, manufacture and distribution of new advanced clinical chemistry platforms for the global clinical laboratory market, which experienced an estimated 5% growth in 2010 and is expected to climb in the future. This 10-year agreement also extends an existing Siemens-JEOL relationship targeted at enhancing current systems within Siemens’ clinical chemistry portfolio. Both aspects of the partnership help ensure that mid- to high-volume laboratories – a large segment of the IVD testing industry – can continue accessing innovative technologies that support gains in efficiency, reliability and accuracy.

The evolving needs of laboratories worldwide are requiring clinical chemistry analyzers to deliver better workstation consolidation that minimizes costs, optimizes productivity and provides access to an expanding test menu. For mid- to high-volume laboratories in particular, they must also be able to fluidly manage peak workload requirements and consistently meet high turnaround-time benchmarks. Recognizing the increased demands the current laboratory environment is placing on these tools, Siemens and JEOL will focus on meeting these needs by developing new clinical chemistry platforms based on Siemens’ history of proven innovation coupled with JEOL’s next-generation micro volume technology. This partnership will also be leveraged to further streamline and enhance Siemens’ ADVIA line of clinical chemistry analyzers, all aimed at helping laboratories further reduce costs while improving workflow and uptime.

“Delivering solutions that ensure laboratories meet their clinical chemistry testing needs remains a core business focus for Siemens and helps our customers achieve both their clinical and business goals,” said Dave Hickey, CEO, Chemistry/Immunoassay, Automation, and Diagnostics IT Business Unit, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. “Through this expanded partnership with JEOL we can harness our collective strengths in innovation and focus on delivering best-in-class systems to the market.”

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics,” said Gon-Emon Kurihara, President of JEOL. “Our new partnership combines the strengths of two leading diagnostic companies whose joint expertise offers best-in-class solutions for the laboratory, and we look forward to expanding the clinical utility of these solutions cooperatively."